Covering more than 64.5 million Americans, Medicaid is the largest health insurance provider in the United States.
It is a collaboration between federal and state governments to provide coverage for basic health care.
Understanding how it works can help you to make the most of its benefits.
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What Medicaid Covers
Medicaid does not necessarily cover everything, but it covers a lot.
The federal government requires that certain services be offered to all Medicaid beneficiaries.
These optional services may include but are not limited to:
Who Can Get Medicaid?
Many people with low incomes would be unable to afford health insurance without government assistance.
This is where Medicaid comes into play.
States can increase income thresholds to include more people.
you’re able to learn more information about what your state program covers on theMedicaid.gov website.
(Childless individuals would no longer be excluded from coverage.)
The remaining states continue to follow the traditional Medicaid eligibility guidelines.
The same cannot be said for those with immigrant status.
Qualified non-citizens are generally eligible for Medicaid once they meet state requirements for income and length of residency.
Often, the residency requirement is five years after attaining lawful permanent residency (green card) status.
These people are referred to as dual eligible.
Medicaid helps them to pay for services that Medicare doesn’t cover.
How to Enroll in Medicaid
Signing up for Medicaid can be done easily online at Medicaid.gov.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.June 2019 Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Mandatory & Optional Medicaid Benefits.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Affordable Care Act Provisions.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Coverage for Lawfully Present Immigrants.
Kaiser Family Foundation.Medicaid - A Primer: Key Information on the Nations Health Coverage Program for Low-Income People.
Updated March 1, 2013.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.Medicaid and CHIP tool, Eligibility Determination, and Enrollment Data.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Poverty Guidelines.
Updated January 17, 2020.
